Man dies after being shot by Ventnor, New Jersey police officer: AG

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Friday, August 7, 2020
Man dies after being shot by Ventnor, New Jersey police officer
Video obtained by Action News captures the incident unfold from the vantage point of a nearby home.

VENTNOR, New Jersey (WPVI) -- An officer-involved shooting left a man dead on Thursday afternoon in Ventnor, New Jersey.

It happened around 4:15 p.m. Thursday on West End Avenue near Raleigh Avenue.

Action News has confirmed that a man was shot and wounded by a Ventnor police officer. According to the New Jersey Attorney General's Office, the suspect died at the hospital.

The Attorney General's office is investigating this incident, and is remaining tight lipped. The office has not released any information since the incident occurred yesterday, but many residents Action News spoke with want answers.

Video obtained by Action News captures the incident unfold from the vantage point of a nearby home.

"They just shot somebody," a resident can be heard saying in the video.

Edgar Montero, a neighbor, said he witnessed the officer involved shooting.

"They shot him, six or seven shots," said Montero.

Alex Sylvester, a US Postal Inspector with the Philadelphia Division, told Action News there was a letter carrier driving a mail truck, when he was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, and made the 911 call.

Montero said it was horrifying to watch the scene unfold.

"I got my grandson, my grandson started screaming, and crying," said Montero.

The man was rushed to Atlanticare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City where he was pronounced dead.

"It was so fast, they grabbed him and they started bringing him back, to put him on the stretcher, and the ambulance took him real fast," said Montero.

No police officers were harmed, but Montero said he's having trouble comprehending why a life was lost.

"Don't just take out your gun and shoot, but I understand they got to protect themselves," said Montero, adding it didn't appear the man shot, had a weapon.

He says it didn't appear the man had a weapon on him.

"Just like an empty glass bottle that he had in his hand, and when he came out the marsh they shot him," said Montero.

Many neighbors Action News spoke with said they want answers.

"It's crazy, scary, not knowing what happened, what was the concern," said Latricia Hooker, a neighbor.

"I feel pretty bad just to know that, just to know that someone got shot," said Gowanda Marcus Abdullah.

Authorities have not identified the man who was shot and killed by the police officer. New Jersey's Attorney General's office is continuing to investigate.